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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Former Nightclub Owners Sentenced For Tax Violations

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Vincent Giamo and his wife Mary Giamo, both of Orchard Park, N.Y., who were convicted of tax violations, were sentenced by Chief U.S District Judge William M. Skretny. Vincent Giamo, who was convicted of tax evasion, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Mary Giamo, who was convicted of aiding or assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, was sentenced to three years probation. The couple was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $671,840. The defendants have already paid $550,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who handled the case, stated that the defendants owned and operated a bar business, known as "Utopia" located at 228 Franklin Street. Between 2002 and 2005, Vincent Giamo maintained two sets of books for "Utopia." One set of books was used for the preparing and filing of the corporate tax returns and the other set of books reflected the true receipts and expenses for the business. The total amount of tax loss associated with the evasion is approximately $1,225,651. Mary Giamo, as an officer of the corporation, aided her husband Vincent Giamo in filing a false return for the taxable years 2004 and 2005. As a result the tax loss for those years was approximately $123,454.

The defendants also face civil penalties associated with the charges.

The sentencings are the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Criminal Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Toni Weirauch.